Emergency Food Grants Help Massachusetts Residents, But Food Insecurity Continues to Grow
One month after the Greater Lowell Community Foundation provided $200,000 in emergency food grants to 15 organizations across its 21-community service area, new findings are revealing the scope of the…
Stock Photo
One month after the Greater Lowell Community Foundation provided $200,000 in emergency food grants to 15 organizations across its 21-community service area, new findings are revealing the scope of the unprecedented food insecurity across the New England region.
According to a (Lowell) Sun report, local food charities are reporting record demand. The Bedford Food Bank is experiencing a 60% to 70% surge in weekly need (approximately 220 to 250 households and about 9,000 pounds of food weekly).
PACH (Pepperell Aid from Community to Home) moved 76,665 pounds in 2025 — up about 23.5% from 2024 — to 212 households serving 1,473 individuals. Project Kompass highlighted growing needs among the working poor in Lowell. Loaves & Fishes in Devens has expanded services to help federal employees affected by the government shutdown, supporting more than 60 additional households.
“These grants represent more than emergency funding — they represent our community's commitment to ensuring no family faces hunger alone,” said Greater Lowell Community Foundation President and CEO Jay Linnehan in a statement shared with The Sun. “The impact statements we've received demonstrate both the severity of this crisis and the extraordinary dedication of our partner organizations responding with compassion and efficiency.”
In Massachusetts, nearly 800,000 residents — including 240,000 children — face food insecurity, according to The Sun. According to Feeding America's 2024 Map the Meal Gap study, 11.2% of Massachusetts residents struggle with food access as grocery prices have increased 25% since 2020, while wages have largely failed to keep up, leaving many working families ineligible for SNAP benefits yet unable to cover basic needs.
The Sun reported that families increasingly seek help through schools and community programs. School staff note that entire families are now using school food pantries, with parents describing dire budgets and limited food access.
